Martial Arts Anyone?

[CarDemon]

Before you guys read any further..,
I am not a Martial Arts expert in any form.
I just thought I should say that, because the more TPC members I meet and the Asian population I see more of, I know that somebody may really want to put me in my place.

There is no mockery intended towards Shoalin and the surronding culture in the Orient. I discussed this with somebody at a meet and I wouldn't want to be blindsided by a 2X4 to test my Shaolin powers. I put on pants one foot at a time and bleed the same blood you mortals do. I have long been fascintated with the branches of Martial Arts and the A&E documentaries.
The history of the peasant farmers and monks is quite entertaining as at that time period of Emporerer and Bandits people had to be innovative in defending themselves.

The only Martial Arts type training I have had was a brief summer of Jui-Jitsu from a Brazilian family next door to me at the time. It was more of a grappling/submission and joint manipulation art, specializing in sciences of leverage and anatomy. Great for street fighting and survival as the early UFC's had the Gracie family tradition from Brazil dominate. I believe that it was carried over from Japan to Brazil in the early 40's or 50's.

So my question remains out of interest and not a challenge.
Has anyone participated in a particular Martial Art?
Just curious!!! http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif

[KingKong]

He's Lying...You have to test him...He showed me all kinds of awesome moves when we met for bubble tea...Furthermore, he meditated in his car after having the bubble tea and his entire car was floating in the air...Someone has got to take a 2x4 and wak him from behind...You'll miss...TRUST ME...You'll prolly end up hitting yourself on the back of you head...

[CarDemon]

Listen guy your gonna get me killed!!!
I'M JUST A NORMAL BROTHA.
If there is gonna be static, I'm gonna go back to the ghetto and bring da 'HEAT'.
If there is conflict I'm gonna haul ass first like most other 100meter black guys who didn't get scholarships.

[KingKong]

Hahahahaha...Alright everyone...It's all just jokes and fun...Wouldn't wanna see CarDemon dead...He's prolly better at running then martial arts....Hhahahahahaaa

[Gen1GT]

I took Tae Kwon Do for a year back in high school. It's a martial art based mostly on kicks. I was known for my leg power, more than leg speed. My instructor could kick me three times before my leg got off the ground. I got up to Green belt. I lost like 20 lbs during that time too....

[IceDragon]

I guess you could say I'm a jack of all (or most) Trades. I've done a bit in Ju jitsu, judo, tae kwon do, ninjitsu, streetfighing, and karate. I'm no master by far but I don't gloat or show off either.

[YP5 Toronto]

its been a long time for me but Aikido.....2 Dan.

Dont' ask me to any of it now.

[feedb4ck]

I'm thinking of taking some classes...but also want to do too many diciplines...

i want to do jkd, akido, muai thai, kendo, tai chi, sung hi lee, natasha yi, and so on and so forth....

[YP5 Toronto]

i like sung hi lee...... very firm and smooth art....

[CarDemon]

Not a bad turn-out!
Now I must focus my Chi, on the Ming Dynasty Lil' Assassin called King Kong. We must arrange an Octagon meet of which I can corner him and put him to sleep when I catch him. http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Sky_high]

Mike, wouldn't it be easier just to run him over with your Shaolin machine (just add some new ghetto modification so he won't be able to run away) JUST JOKING! http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[CarDemon]

Hey!
I could team up with my Drunken Master Monk Comrade and really do damage. Cheap Red Rice Wine right.., yeah that's it. I remember your potion well.

[MP5Navy]

I have taken Karate. Finished my training with a brown belt.

[markque]

Interesting topic.
Wado Kai - "the way of peace and harmony" - Okinawan (Japanese) karate - 1982 - 1990. Obtained nidan - second degree black belt. Competed in Wado Kai tournaments in SW Ont - still have a box full of medals and trophies. Excellent physical fitness, stress-reliever, and comeraderie. It's also a great sport for those who want to excel individually, not relying on "the team". The organization was run by well-respected people and I got to know all the ranking officials. My head instructors at the local club, a husband and wife, were like second parents to me. Sensei Masaru Shintani, 8th degree and head master of Wado Kai in Canada, died a few years ago - rest his soul. An incredible man. Highly recommend Wado Kai training to anyone interested.
1991 -  Goju Ryu, also Okinawan karate, with Don Warrener's group in Hamilton. I quickly gained knowledge up to green-blue belt before walking away from a lifetime membership (explained below). I enjoyed learning katas with the weaponry - new to me at the time - the sai, the bo, the shindo.
Don took all his senior belts to an authentic Japanese restaurant in St. Catherines at Christmas in '91. He proceeded to order saki, Japanese wine, in excess. Then he began pulling light fixtures off the ceiling and punching holes in the wall, all while addressing the waitress, dressed in formal Japanese attire, names like wench and worse. To top it off, he didn't even put enough money in the pot to cover his own meal. This man is pathetic and if he's still in business, that's a sin. I wrote a letter to my head instructor, one of Don's many underdogs, and told him how disgusted I was of his and Don's behaviour and that I wanted no part of such a pathetic organization. They didn't meet with my standards.
1993 - immersed myself again in Wado Kai and quickly regained skills but left Hamilton shortly thereafter. I could have opened my own club in Guelph but was more interested in being a lifetime student than instructing others.
I really miss my karate days and often think back to them. I practice my katas from time to time during a quiet moment when I have the room to move around. It's in the blood. My sister and brother-in-law still run the club I spent years at. She's a fourth degree (yodan) and he's a fifth degree (godan). They are both incredible karateka. I have other family members involved as well.
So my experienced advice is to thoroughly investigate martial arts clubs before investing your money and time. Some are excellent - others are farces.

[Sky_high]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (CarDemon @ Oct. 14 2002,01:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hey!
I could team up with my Drunken Master Monk Comrade and really do damage. Cheap Red Rice Wine right.., yeah that's it. I remember your potion well.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
AAAhhhh.... 'Violence' together with 'Alcohol' (cheap rice wine at that) has never done anyone any good.

BTW, We do not know the secret powers of 'King Kong'. He may morph into 'King Kong' if under attack! (similar to the Incredible Hulk)

[Protege5girl]

I took judo for a bit. The instructor always paired me up with this kid with a green belt that was way older than me. It SUCKED. I remember he used to spin me and then stick out his leg and i would go flying.

the good thing, I would go home and practive the moves on my sister...hehe

[deejayspinz]

I'm currently taking Karate (green belt). The funny part is that we seem to do a lot more Tai Kwon Do (sp?) than anything else. We also do a lot of self defense, kicks, and wrist/arm/hand locks etc... The best part is sparring. Being a short guy, I like sparring with the tall people. Trying to figure out where they are weak.. I know my weakness - while I am makin moves for their mid sections, I seem to always get whacked on the head from above...

[CarDemon]

Damn!
We have some Street Fighter amongst us just in case we run into another Car Clan we could unite like Voltron, ThunderCats, GoBots, SuperHeroes, G-Force and defend our Proteges to the death.

As for KIng Kong. He does have that David Banner syndrom laying in wait. The smily and friendly personality can change if we provoke him and gets pissed. Instead of turning green, he may turn ultra yellow, mutate like Lou Ferrigno on Cocain and kick all of our asses and topple my P5.

I will now gracefully back out from the Octagon challenge. There are some officially decorated members here who have a history just short of the UFC. http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif

[Eds mp5]

Hey i used to take aikido too, took it for like 4 or five years.. good shit. Ive slowly been considering starting back up again. Hmm maybe.

Ed

[KingKong]

Hhahhahaa...I guess my Username is prolly the only thing that is scary http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif Once you meet me, you'll now how much smaller I am in person...But don't let my height fool ya...